The last time I went to Knit + Stitch, or the Knitting and Stitching Show as it was, was in 2019. No matter how much I enjoyed my day there, I've never quite forgiven it for giving me what seemed like a mild cold for a week, which was swiftly followed by what I think was bronchitis during the time I was also covering for my colleague (away doing jury service) in the lead-up to a release.

So today was the first time since. I hadn't really planned to go until about a couple of weeks ago, so by then it was more or less pointless to look at workshops and stuff. So I didn't. The journey to Alexandra Palace is a bit of a trek but it went fine in the morning. I've previously used the shuttle bus from Wood Green tube, but this time I skipped the tube and took the Elizabeth line (Paddington to Farrington) and Thameslink (Farrington to Finsbury Park) and Great Northern (Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace) trains instead. And I treated the walk up from the train station as useful hill training. I had planned a shopping list of sorts but nothing really caught my eye. So I didn't actually buy anything and didn't stay very long.

Afterwards, given I was already in London, I went out to look at backbags because my larger one is starting to fall apart. I've had it for years and used it all the time, so that's no wonder. The other day at work, a colleague was praising her Roka backbag so I was curious to see the options. But looking at them in person showed they weren't quite what I was looking for. But I found one that I liked, so I bought it.

Back in Reading, I went to Waterstones to browse for a little while and emerged with two books. As if I didn't have enough piling up already. And I've got one in transit that I ordered online. Royal Mail are doing their best to deliver on days I'm not in. After the first attempt on Wednesday, knowing I was going to be in the office on Thursday since I missed Tuesday, I requested Friday, only for them to skip yesterday completely and try to deliver today when I was still in London. Looks like I'm going to have to go to the delivery office to pick it up, and the earliest I can do that is probably on Wednesday.

Finished since the last reading post
Beyond the Door of No Return, which was really enjoyable all the way through.

Mystery in the Minster by Susanna Gregory, taking Bartholomew and friends to York to claim an inheritance for the college, with the usual amount of intrigue and bodies piling up.

Currently reading
When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson. Some slow progress with Jonas, Dennis, & die Liebe

Reading next
Not entirely sure, I've got a bunch of new books at home, so probably try to pick up one of them.

My project to turn my worn corduroy trousers into a skirt didn't go as smoothly as I hoped, but in the end I got something that I'll probably wear. I was half ready to give up yesterday when I was unpicking the same seam for about the third time.

From the transformation I moved on to the summer top. I'm still not sure if I understand the instructions for sewing a concealed zip but for now I think I'm on the right track. But I won't know for sure until I continue another day.

And in the early evening I went to see a concert by a local orchestra at the university campus, which I enjoyed even more than I expected.